Multiple cell reproducing apparatus



March 8, 1932. F. H. OWENS MULTIPLE CELL REPRODUCING APPARATUS FiledApril 1, 1929 75 ANPL/F/EB INVENTOR. fleas/VAN hf Owls/vs.

ATTO EY Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREEMAN H.OWENS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO OWENS DEVELOPMENT COR- PORATION,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MULTIPLE CELL REPRODUCINGAPPARATUS Application filed April 1, 1929. Serial No. 351,746.

This invention relates to improvements in multiple cell reproducingapparatus, the object of the invention being to provide asound-reproducing apparatus in which a plurality of light-sensitiveelements are grouped about the path of the modulated light rays in suchmanner as to affect all of said elements thereby increasing the volumeof the reproduced sound'over that produced by the use of a single cell.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus ofthe character described in which the operation is not dependent upon asingle light-sensitive element,'but in which a plurality of suchelements are disposed in such relation to'the path of the modulatedlight rays that in case of the failure of one or more of said elementsto function the remaining elements will catch enough of said rays toprevent in- I terruption of the operation of the apparatus.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts which will appear more fullyhereafter.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional plan View of an apparatus embodyingthe features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional side view, showing the apparatusconnected with an amplifier and loud speaker, the housing of thelight-sensitive elements being omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the record-carrying film, on anenlarged scale, and showing the film gate with its slit in position topermit passage of light through the record.

- The same characters of reference desiglight after their passagethrough the said slit is a focusing lens 4, by means of which said raysare focused through a slit in the gate 5 upon a sound record 6 which hasbeen photographed on a film, said film being adapted to travel past saidslit in the usual manner, In the present instance the film and its gateare shown mounted at one side of a box or housing 8 which is closed soas to exclude all light except that which passes through the recordcarried by the film.

Vithin thelhousing 8 are disposed a plurality of light-sensitiveelements, or photoelectric cells, three being shown in the presentinstance, designated respectively 9, 10 and 11. These light-sensitiveelements are grouped about the path of the modulated light admitted tothe housing through the sound record and have their windows sopositioned relative to said path as to receive a maximum amount of thelight rays. The outputs of all of the light-sensitive elements aresuitably connected to an amplifier 12, which in turn is connected to aloud speaker, both the amplifier and speaker being illustrated onlyconventionally herein.

I have found in practice that by the employment of a plurality oflight-sensitive elements grouped about the path of the light, not onlyis considerably greater volume of the reproduced sound obtained thanwhen a single cell is used, but in case of the failure of one or more ofthe elements to function the remaining elements will catch enough of theli ht rays to permit the apparatus to carry on without interruption. Itis to be understood that the number of light-sensitive elements as wellas their position as shown in the drawings are illustrative only andthat I do not intend to limit my invention to the exact number orposition of the elements, as I am aware that they may vary considerablywithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: v

1. In a sound reproducing apparatus, comprising, in combination, aphotographic sound record, means for projecting light through saidrecord thereby to modulate the e f" 7 games o light rays, and aplurality of light-sensitive elements disposed about the path of saidmodulated light rays'and each positioned so as to receive a portion ofsaid rays, oneof said cellsbeing directlyin the path of said I rays andthe other of said cells being angularly disposed on either side of thecell iii the direct path of said rays. '2-. .Ar.,sound reproducingapparatus com 10 prising, in combination, a photographic sound record,means for projecting light through said record thereby to modulate thelight rays, a plurality of light-sensitive elements disposed about thepath of saidr'modu- Y, lated light rays, one of said elements being 7directly in the path of said rays and the others of said elements'beingangularly disposed on'either side 'ofthe element in the directv path ofsaid rays,and each being positioned to receive and translate a portionof said rays into electrical impulses, and means connectedvvith saidelements for amplifying and rendering audible the translated- I vimpulses. r I I -V 3. A sound reproducing apparatus, comprising, incombination, a photographic sound record/means for projecting lightthrough said recordthereby to modulate the H light rays, a plurality oflight-sensitive elements disposed about the path ofjsaid modulated'rays,one of said elements being directly in the path of said rays and theother of said elements being 'angularly disposed on either side of theelement in the direct path of said rays and each positioned to receiveand trans-' late a portion of saidrays into electric impulses, and anamplifier and loud speaker common to all of said light sensitiveelements for rendering audible the translated impulses. 4Q In testimonywhereof, I aflix my signature.

FREEMAN H. OWEN S,

